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Pitch Perfect Paws, Warren, PA (2026)

10/29/2026

🐾 Sometimes, the Best Lessons Aren't the Ones We Planned. ❤️

Yesterday morning, Puppy and I stopped at McDonald's. I ordered some food, and we settled onto a bench outside so I could eat.

Several people walked past us, and Puppy paid them little attention. Just what I would expect from a service dog in training.

But then a woman and an older gentleman stopped nearby. The gentleman was clearly interested in the puppy, and the puppy was equally interested in him! In fact, Puppy was so determined to get to this man that he was pulling toward him and pretty much ignoring my requests to settle and ignore.

When the woman asked if my puppy could say hello, my immediate response was my usual, "No, I'm sorry. He's practicing to be a working dog." But something made me reconsider. I couldn't explain it, but Puppy seemed unusually drawn to this particular gentleman. So I changed my mind.

"You know what? In this case, I'm going to let him say hello. He seems to be alerting to something, although I'm not sure what."

The woman looked puzzled and asked what I meant. I explained that Puppy seemed to feel a very strong need to greet this particular person, and I wanted to see what happened.

As the gentleman began loving on Puppy, the woman leaned over and quietly whispered to me that he had dementia. I later learned that he was 93 years old.

Did Puppy somehow sense something about this gentleman? I honestly don't know. Dogs are incredibly observant, and sometimes they respond to things we humans don't even notice.

What I DO know is that Puppy absolutely made this gentleman's day. And judging by the enthusiasm of the greeting, the gentleman made Puppy's day, too. ❤️

I spend a great deal of time teaching the puppy that he doesn't need to greet everyone he encounters. And that's an important lesson! But yesterday reminded me that training isn't always black and white. Sometimes it's about knowing your dog, reading the situation, and making a thoughtful decision in the moment.

And sometimes, a little connection between a 93-year-old man and a young puppy is worth bending the rules for. 🐾❤️

10/25/2026

Around and Around We Go! Or…
What Does a Carousel Have to Do with Service Dog Training?

Quite a bit, actually!

After two years of training, this wonderful dog is getting ready to go home with his new person!! These two have only been together for THREE days, and tomorrow, they'll be boarding an airplane for their first flight home together.

So, last night, while visiting Erie Zoo together, we decided to take advantage of an opportunity to introduce this handsome fellow to a different kind of movement — a ride on the carousel!

He rode alongside us on one of the stationary benches while the carousel turned and the horses moved up and down around him.

Service dogs need to be comfortable navigating all kinds of environments, sights, sounds, and sensations. While a carousel certainly isn't the same as an airplane, it offers an opportunity to experience unfamiliar movement in a controlled setting, with his new handler right by his side.

But the carousel was only one small part of the experience.

The zoo was packed with people, many dressed in Halloween costumes, including some pretty interesting inflatable ones! There was music, noise, movement, crowds, animal sights and smells, and plenty of people wanting to interact with the adorable dog in the service harness. In fact, we had to ask people not to speak to or touch him on about 20 different occasions. Talk about distractions!

But here's what I really want people to understand. This dog is trained. BUT…this TEAM is brand new.

Even though this dog has already completed his formal training, he and his handler are just beginning their journey together. Every new experience is an opportunity to build trust, confidence, and teamwork.

His new handler has never had a dog before. She's learning his commands, his behaviors, and how to communicate with him. Meanwhile, he's learning about her, what she expects, and whether all those rules he learned with his trainers still apply with this new person holding the leash. (Spoiler alert: They do! LOL)

They're learning to read each other, trust each other, and work together. And that's something that doesn't happen overnight, no matter how well-trained the dog may be.

Training doesn't end when a service dog graduates. In many ways, that's when the real adventure begins! ❤️🐾

Wishing this wonderful new team a lifetime of adventures together — and a smooth flight home on Monday!!

10/24/2026

🍁🐾 Fall days are made for adventures! 🐾🍂

What a beautiful day to be outside enjoying the sunshine, fresh air, and gorgeous fall colors!

We've been out making the most of it, and now we'd love to see what you and your pups are up to!

📸 Show us your dogs enjoying fall! Drop your favorite photo in the comments. Let's fill this page with happy dogs and autumn colors! 🍁🐕❤️

10/19/2026

Today, on what would have been her birthday, I'd like to introduce you to someone who played a very special role in my journey as a dog trainer. ❤️🐾

Her name was Mary Kutulakis, and she was the owner of Fieldwood Dog Training Center in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

I first met Mary when I walked into one of her obedience classes with my shy rescue dog. She welcomed me and "Jerzy" with open arms, and little did I know at the time just how much that meeting would change my life.

Mary believed in me wholeheartedly. She gave me the opportunity to develop an agility program at Fieldwood from the ground up, trusting me to create, experiment, and grow as an instructor. For several years, I spent nearly every Sunday there, teaching classes, working with dogs, and building friendships that continue to this day.

But Fieldwood was so much more than a training center. It was a community. The students and instructors shared laughter, tears, birthday celebrations, music, and countless memories with our dogs. Mary had a wonderful way of bringing people together and making them feel like they belonged.

Over the years, she became not just a supporter of my work, but a dear friend. We shared a love of dogs, music, and singing, and she was always there to encourage me and support me and my animals.

When I eventually left Fieldwood to tour with The NED Show, leaving that community behind was one of the hardest parts of the decision. One of the class groups even surprised me by wearing NED Show hats on the last day of class in support of my new adventure. That's the kind of family Mary had created, and it's something I've never forgotten.

Mary passed away in June of 2025, but her influence lives on in so many ways. When I think about the journey that eventually led me to where I am now, I can't help but recognize the role she played in helping me become the trainer I am today.

Sometimes the people who make the biggest difference in our lives aren't the ones who teach us how to do something. They're the ones who believe in what we're capable of and give us the freedom and encouragement to discover it for ourselves. Mary was one of those people.

She also loved birthdays! For Mary, they were an opportunity to gather the people she loved and celebrate friendship and life. So today, I'm celebrating her and the wonderful gift of friendship and encouragement she gave me.

Happy heavenly birthday, Mary. I hope you're singing, dancing, and surrounded by all those beloved dogs. ❤️🐾🎶

(Pictured in this collage is Bowser, a severely emaciated pit bull who had been abandoned and whom I managed to capture and rescue. Through Mary's connections, we were able to find a rescue group to help share his story and find an adopter. She also offered free classes for him.)

10/16/2026

🐾 Fear-Free Friday: Freedom Is Earned! 🐾

This morning, the puppy and I spent some time at the park. He got to chase his ball, explore the trails, sniff to his heart's content, and enjoy much of our walk without a leash.

And as I watched him happily exploring, I found myself thinking about something. He earned this freedom.

From the day I brought him home, we've been working on training. Coming when called. Paying attention to me even when there are distractions. Learning good manners. Making good choices. And, perhaps most importantly, building a relationship based on trust and communication.

Today, when I saw other people approaching on the trail, I called him back and put his leash on. Not because I was particularly worried about what he might do, but because being a responsible dog owner also means respecting the comfort and safety of others.

We've all encountered that dog on a trail whose owner calls him over and over and over again, only to be completely ignored. Sometimes the dog eventually returns, only to be scolded for not listening. But here's my question: Was that dog ever really taught what was expected of him? Or was he taught but just not ready to apply it to real life situations yet?

Coming when called isn't something dogs automatically know how to do. It's a skill that has to be taught, practiced, and reinforced, gradually working up to more challenging environments and distractions.

And reprimanding a dog when he finally does return? Well, what incentive does that give him to come back the next time?

Then there's the familiar cry of, "Don't worry! He's friendly!". Maybe he is. Maybe he isn't. But even if he is, the dog or person he's approaching may not want to interact with him. And that's okay! Being friendly doesn't give a dog permission to invade someone else's space.

If I didn't feel confident that the puppy would come when called, he wouldn't have been off leash today. It's that simple.

Because here's what I want people to understand: Training isn't about taking away a dog's freedom. It's about giving them MORE of it.

Because we've invested time in learning these skills together, my puppy gets opportunities he might not otherwise have. More freedom to explore. More opportunities to run and play. More chances to just be a dog.

Of course, even a well-trained dog isn't perfect, and freedom always comes with responsibility. Leash laws, the environment, wildlife, other dogs, and the comfort of people around us all matter.

But when we take the time to teach our dogs the skills they need, rather than simply expecting them to know what to do, we make their world a little bigger.

We don't train our dogs just to make our lives easier. We train them to make THEIR lives better, too. ❤️🐾

And watching the puppy enjoy his morning reminded me of exactly why I love what I do.

What is something your dog gets to enjoy because of the training you've done together?

10/09/2026

Fear-Free Friday – Part 2 of The Great Feather Phobia!

The puppy and I took a trip to Chicago earlier this week, and on one of our walks, he encountered another feather. This one was considerably smaller than the last one, but his reaction was pretty much the same. He was visibly freaked out by it and wanted nothing to do with it...

Now, this is a dog who navigated busy city streets, elevators and escalators, crowds, and all sorts of unusual sights and sounds in stride.

But the FEATHER?! Absolutely not. 😂

Naturally, I had to do a little research. And much to my surprise, I discovered that this puppy isn't necessarily alone! Other dog owners have reported their dogs being afraid of feathers, too. Apparently, fear of feathers is a thing. Who knew?! They say you learn something new every day. This is my something new today.

I suppose when you think about it, a feather is a pretty strange object. It's lightweight, moves unpredictably, and might suddenly flutter without warning. And it's not attached to the thing it should be attached to. From a dog's perspective, perhaps that's a little suspicious!

And that brings me to this week's Fear-Free Friday research project.

IS YOUR DOG AFRAID OF FEATHERS? 🪶 I'm genuinely curious!

If your dog is comfortable exploring new objects, try placing a feather on the ground and see what happens. Does your dog investigate it? Ignore it? Play with it? Or react like it's a tiny, terrifying creature from another planet? What does he do if you pick it up?

Of course, we're all about fear-free training here, so no chasing dogs around with feathers or deliberately frightening them! Let them investigate voluntarily, and if they're uncomfortable, that's the end of the experiment.

Report your findings in the comments! I think we may have a very important scientific study on our hands. Lol 🤣

And the puppy would like it noted that he is perfectly capable of handling the big, scary world. Just please remove the feathers. 🪶🐾❤️

10/02/2026

Fear Free Friday - When you're not afraid to be yourself!

Apparently I have been focusing on the wrong career path for this dog. 😂

My friend and helper came over yesterday, and Paulie was SO incredibly excited to see her, and all of that enthusiasm had to go somewhere.

His chosen method?

Run around the house like a complete loon... and then launch himself from the edge of the rug onto the sofa. 🤣

Watch where he takes off and where he lands. I haven't pulled out the measuring tape yet, but that's one heck of a leap!

Sometimes puppies just have BIG feelings, and they need an appropriate way to let some of that excitement out before they're ready to settle again.

And I am discovering something that seems to come naturally to him. BIG jumps!

He does enjoy his service work, but what do you think? Future agility star? Flyball champion?

Or just a 10-month-old puppy who was VERY happy the cleaner came over and has absolutely no idea that normal dogs simply WALK over to the couch... 🤣

Be joyful. Be ridiculous. Take up space. And apparently, if you're the puppy… FLY. 🤣

Video edits by Andrew Dresher.

09/29/2026

🐾 Good Dog Etiquette... A Tuesday thought...

On our walk today, I noticed a trash can along the street that had clearly become a popular marking spot for neighborhood dogs. When the puppy went to add his contribution, I stopped him and moved him along.

And believe me, I get it — boy dogs (as well as some girl dogs) mark! Mine certainly does. 😂 Marking is perfectly normal dog behavior, and I give my dog plenty of appropriate opportunities to do it on our walks. But just because it's natural doesn't mean he gets to mark wherever he wants. That's where I come in as his handler.

On another stretch of our street, I picked up three piles of dog p**p that definitely weren't ours.

It got me thinking about something we don't talk about as much when we talk about dog training: being a good steward of the spaces we share.

Yes, dogs p*e. Dogs mark. Dogs p**p. That's part of having a dog. But where we allow them to do those things is part of being a responsible handler.

Someone else's trash can, mailbox, flower pot, lawn decoration, car tire, or other personal property doesn't need to become our dog's bathroom. And if our dog p**ps, we pick it up — even when it's inconvenient, even when nobody is watching.

I don't expect dogs to understand property lines or neighborhood etiquette. That's our job.

For me, training isn't just about having a dog who sits, stays, heels, or comes when called. It's also about teaching him how to move respectfully through a world that belongs to all of us.

And sometimes that simply means, “Nope, buddy. Not there. Let's keep walking.” 🐾

Being a responsible dog owner isn't complicated. It's just one more way we can be good neighbors — and good stewards of the places we're lucky enough to enjoy with our dogs.

Photo of a sign in my neighbors' yards. They should not need a sign...

09/26/2026

Fear-Free Friday: Tick Checks.

Today's lesson comes courtesy of a tiny, unwanted visitor I found on the puppy. A tick. And here's the surprising part: we haven't been hiking or anywhere particularly exciting for the last couple of days, which means there's a pretty good chance he picked it up right here in our own backyard. Apparently, ticks don't require an adventure.

But finding a tick this evening got me thinking about something else: a tick check is a handling exercise. Think about all the places we need to be able to examine carefully on our dogs:
- Ears
- Face
- Neck and under the collar
- Armpits
- Belly
- Legs and feet
- Between the toes
- Around the tail

Those aren't necessarily places every dog is comfortable having a human poke, prod, separate fur, or examine closely. That's where Fear-Free training comes in.

I don't want the first time the puppy learns that I'm going to inspect between his toes to be when I absolutely HAVE to get something out there. So handling them on different parts of their body beforehand is training.

Touch a paw, get a reward. Look in an ear, reward. Lift a leg, reward. Separate some fur and examine the skin or check between the toes, reward.

And if your dog is uncomfortable with anything? That's information. Slow down, make the exercise easier, and work at a level where your dog can be successful.

The goal isn't simply to teach a dog to tolerate being handled. I want the puppy to learn that having his body examined is safe, predictable, and nothing to worry about, because someday he might have a tick. Another day it might be a sore paw, an injured ear, a burr tangled in his fur, or something a veterinarian needs to examine.

The more comfortable our dogs are with being handled before something is wrong, the less stressful those moments can be when something is wrong.

So today's Fear-Free Friday homework: check your dog for ticks, even if they've only been in the backyard. And while you're doing it, pay attention to how your dog feels about being checked. Tick prevention protects the body. Cooperative handling protects their emotional well-being too. And while the puppy thoroughly enjoys being looked over by me, he would like his uninvited backyard guest to know that he is not welcome back!

09/21/2026

⚾️🐾 The puppy went to his first baseball game!

And while we didn’t quite make it to the end, I’m calling this one a BIG win.

When I take a young service dog in training into a brand-new environment, I try to stack the deck in our favor as much as possible. Yesterday happened to be just about perfect. Rain was threatening, attendance was lighter than usual, and I chose our seats very intentionally — front row against the wall so there was nobody directly in front of him to investigate, in a mostly empty section, and on the aisle in case we needed a quick exit.

Before the game started, I gave him some time to simply take everything in. New smells. New sounds. People moving around. A completely different environment than anything he'd experienced before.

I rewarded him for choosing to sit or lie down and settle. Then, as the game was starting, I gave him a bully stick. That was intentional too. I wanted him engaged in something familiar and enjoyable while the crowd noise began to build, rather than having his full attention on every cheer, clap and shout.

Once he finished it, the treats went away and I let him just...experience the game. And he did REALLY well. ❤️

He was actually beginning to settle nicely when someone tried to interact with him (please don't distract working dogs! 😬), and shortly afterward he decided he needed to potty. I tried waiting for him to settle again before leaving, but he wasn't able to. So we left.

He made it all the way to the 7th inning at his very first baseball game. For a 10-month-old puppy experiencing something like this for the first time, I'll take that!

We also lucked out with the PERFECT first game. There was plenty of normal crowd noise, but the game itself was rather uneventful — no home runs or huge moments that sent the entire stadium into an uproar. In fact, when we left in the 7th inning, nobody had scored at all. 😂. I couldn't have planned a better introduction if I'd tried.

And that's something I think is important when we're socializing and training young dogs: we don't have to throw them into the hardest version of an experience to teach them how to handle it.

Choose the quieter game. Choose the empty section. Choose the seat with an easy exit. Bring something that helps them settle. Give them time to watch and process. And if they tell you they've reached their limit? Go home.

Success isn't always staying until the final out. Sometimes success is seven innings. ⚾️🐾❤️. Here is a video of him chewing his bully stick, not caring about all of the cheering, activity, or announcements going on around him...

Pitch Perfect Paws

10/29/2026

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